Here’s What You Need To Know About How Body Mass Index (BMI) is Calculated, Its Effect on Health and Its Measurement

WHO has revealed a startling report about the health of the Emirates classifying 34.5% of the population as obese while 70.6% are overweight. The term obesity is not as dreaded as the complications that accompany this condition including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, breathing difficulties, and eventually death! 

This seems an impulse enough to be mindful of activities that ultimately lead to this aberration. BMI is one such diagnosis that might help us address this concern while we still can make amends about it. 

So What is Body Mass Index?

Body Mass Index or BMI compares the body mass/weight with respect to the height of the body. Initially devised as a tool to study large population sizes, BMI is now frequently adopted in citing concerns about the physical health of an individual. 

When looking for the number to use to find your weight percentile, we use an equation called a standard curve. This standard curve has a BMI value plotted for each percentile from the bottom of the chart to the top. You can use this standard curve to find your own BMI percentile.

In general, children with higher BMIs (measured as weight and height) are more likely to be overweight. BMI is calculated using the child’s weight and height, which are usually taken while standing and at least wearing light clothing. The formula for BMI is weight in pounds (kg) divided by height in inches (in) squared, and this number is then compared to the CDC’s growth charts to determine a BMI percentile.

How is the Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculated?

BMI is calculated using the formula:

BMI= (Weight in kg)/(Height in m)²

      = 703×(weight in lb)/(Height in in)²

Traditionally, one had to rely on separate tools to measure the two variables that often paved way for errors, but the scales for the BMI scale are now a click away. These set-ups perform the dual function of measuring your weight as well as your height with an extended upper limit to help in your health-conscious journey.

WHAT IS THE NORMAL RANGE ON THE BMI SCALE?

A BMI scale defines a certain range of calculated values to classify a body type as underweight, normal, or obese. While the range of 18-25 represents a good body mass index, a BMI below or above is characterized as underweight and overweight respectively. The detailed body mass index chart is given below 0p

You can use a BMI calculator to determine your BMI range. A BMI lower than 18.5 increases the risks of malnutrition which opens the pandora box of health issues like infertility, lack of adequate immunity, poor body development, and increased risk of complications arising out of simple surgeries.

The normal range determines what has been advised by the WHO in order to maintain a healthy life.

It is a BMI above 25 and critically in the 30-40 range that sets the alarm ringing. Especially, if the genetic pool of a person reeks of hypertension, diabetes, or other cardiovascular diseases, he or she needs to adopt ways to regulate their BMIs so as to bring it under control. Obesity combined with such conditions will complicate their health and therefore maintaining a normal BMI must become our priority.

IS BMI A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL?

As cautionary as obesity sounds, using a BMI scale index to classify anyone as obese or not isn’t really an authentic call to make as it all depends on the health conditions of an individual at a given period of time. A person within the advised range of the BMI scale might be into demeaning practices like smoking, intoxication, or even a victim of stress or other psychological condition. On the other hand, a person of BMI 30 or above owing to his extreme build-up would be gleeful about the healthy and plump life that he’d be leading. 

It can therefore be concluded that BMI isn’t any strict indication of health-related issues but people who are troubled with health issues must surely watch out for their BMIs. As the WHO itself points out the definition of health as,

“Health is defined as the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not just an absence of infirmity or disease”

So let’s not create troubles where there are none. A healthy body is not a chiseled body housing an anxious mind but any well functioning human body that is at peace with itself. A healthy diet, a good night’s sleep, and stretching every day is enough to keep your health issues at bay. At the same time, an equal awareness of any deviations from the normal BMI should be cautionary and dealt with accordingly.